Bank freezes farmer’s accounts for being Mallya’s ‘guarantor’

Pilibhit (UP) : Manmohan Singh, a 54-year-old farmer of a nondescript village here, does not even know who Vijay Mallya is, but his banking facilities have been terminated for standing as “guarantor” for the liquor baron, who has defaulted on loan repayment and is facing money laundering charges.

Singh, a resident of Khajuria Naviram village under Bilsanda police station, was informed by Naand branch of Bank of Baroda two days ago that his two accounts were being frozen for standing as “guarantor” for Mallya.

Acting on instructions of BOB regional office, Mumbai, Manager Mange Lal froze Singh’s accounts, one having a deposit of Rs 12,000 and the other Rs 4,000.

Singh says he does not even know Mallya or anything about his company. “Leave alone Mallya or Kingfisher, I have never travelled to Mumbai or even Lucknow,” he said.

The farmer said he had taken a loan of Rs four lakh some two years ago for which he had submitted documents relating to his land with the bank.

Meanwhile, Lal said he has got fresh orders from the regional office and Singh’s accounts are being restored with immediate effect.

Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines has been accused of defaulting on bank loans of over Rs 9,400 crore.